ALERT - Fresh Produce Needed! Our Nourish Food Bank needs fresh produce donations. If you are looking to support our most vulnerable brothers and sisters, please consider donating fresh produce for our Nourish Food Bank. We are good on canned goods and other staples! Thank you so much for all your support! Questions, please contact Tina Anton at anton524@comcast.net for more information.

58 individuals from our congregation have volunteered at least once at the Food Bank - whether setting up Friday afternoon, or assisting families on Friday nights.

Other volunteers: Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, Stadium High School Honor Society students, Browns Point Elementary and Meeker Middle School students, community members (i.e. personal friends of mine) and two volunteers who previously worked at the Nourish mobile site and stuck around when BPUMC took over;

We average 24 volunteer hours per week; 24 x 52 weeks/year = 1248 hours per year. That’s an AMAZING 2500 hours for the past two years.

Three families are currently homeless; the majority of families are employed with low-wage jobs (housekeeping, janitorial, part-time school employee). A few are retirement age and older, living alone on Social Security. (This is information Tina has gained from personal conversations.) Families are NOT required to disclose any employment or income information in writing.

Food Contributors

Since June 2015 the NE Tacoma Community Garden has brought in over 110 pounds of fresh produce. In the summer we also have 4 neighbors that regularly bring "extras" from their garden: fresh tomatoes, beans, plums, lettuce, herbs, apples.

Since Feb 2015 St. Matthews Episcopal Church has donated over 250 pounds of food. Their congregation donates to our Food Bank every month!

Meeker Middle School has donated food from their "We Scare Hunger" drive for the past two years - over 600 pounds in November 2014. Crescent Heights Elementary donated over 2000 food items in December 2014.

From Pam M.: “David and I have volunteered since it started. It’s part of what churches should be doing in my opinion. I like working with the people/clients. They are really appreciative of the food bank. One day, I stayed outside with some kids. The mom shared that her son (much older than the kids) was getting his feet back on the ground after some bad decisions. She said he was living on his own and needed some support. Her decision was to support him in his efforts to seek out places like FISH food bank rather than rescue him. She had a lot of wisdom. I think it is the "hand up not hand out" philosophy that I like - and I believe the clients feel the same.”

From Anne S. who has served for 2 years: “It absolutely answers Jesus' call to feed our brothers and sisters who are hungry. I've volunteered at other food banks and this one far exceeds nutritional value and content of other food banks. We are also feeding souls. One mom told me that her kids enjoy coming each week because they get to see their friends. The recipients feel like family. They know it is a safe, happy place to come each week.”

From Pat M.: “I enjoy the interaction with the people who come to the food bank. One woman was so pleased because she was able to make a salad with the fresh produce for a school potluck. A few talk about how they will cook with the food. When children come it is fun to see what they choose if given a choice. One time we had colored carrots and a woman was excited to show these to her daughter who loved carrots. These people seem very grateful for the service and for the most part do not take advantage of the situation. They only take what they need and will use.”